Paving machine

ABSTRACT

A paving machine is disclosed. The paving machine includes a hopper to receive a paving material and an auger to distribute the paving material on a work surface. A screed assembly levels the paving material distributed by the auger. The paving machine further includes a roller to compact the paving material leveled by the screed assembly and a rear traction device positioned downstream of the roller.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Present disclosure relates to the field of paving machines. In particular, present disclosure relates to paving machines with compacting rollers.

BACKGROUND

Paving machines are generally known for laying road surfaces. The paving machines generally have a hopper, a conveyor, an auger, and a screed for laying paved surfaces. The hopper receives a paving material, such as asphalt or concrete. As the paving machine moves forward, the paving material is distributed laterally on a work surface using an auger. Subsequently, the distributed material is leveled and to an extent compacted using a screed mounted on a rear portion of the paving machine to produce a thickness of paving material having an even surface, often referred to as a mat or an asphalt mat.

The compaction of the mat achieved by the screed mounted on the paving machine is not sufficient as required for making a road. Therefore, after the paving machine, another compacting machine, such as compactors with heavy rollers are passed over the mat for further compacting the paving material. The compacting machines work in coordination with the paving machine operators and the compacting machines usually work behind the paving machines to compact the mat laid by the paving machines.

The width of the mat laid by the paving machine may not match the width of the rollers of the compacting machine used for compacting the mat. Therefore, multiple compacting machines or multiple number of runs of compacting machines may be required to compact entire width of the mat laid by the paving machine.

Further, use of separate compacting machines for compacting the mat laid by the paving machines may be time consuming and also requires additional manpower for operating these machines. Additionally, for producing a proper road surface, the mat laid by the paving machine has to be compacted before the paving material cures and sets on the work surface. Therefore, the mat laid by the paving machine is required to be treated with compacting machines within a certain time duration.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,399 (hereinafter referred as '399) discloses a road repairing vehicle with integrated compactor. The road repairing vehicle of '399 includes a rear chassis mounted with rollers. The rear chassis is trailed by the front chassis and supports components like motorization assembly, tank, transmission means, etc. in such a manner that their composite weight makes the weight on the rear chassis suitable to form a compactor. As the rollers are always in contact with the work surface, such road repairing vehicles may be cumbersome to operate in certain situations when the rollers are not in use, for example while transportation of the machine. Furthermore, the rollers in contact with the work surface may create unnecessary drag when not in use and reduce overall efficiency of the machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A paving machine is disclosed. The paving machine includes a hopper to receive a paving material and an auger to distribute the paving material on a work surface. A screed assembly levels the paving material distributed by the auger. The paving machine further includes a roller to compact the paving material leveled by the screed assembly and a rear traction device positioned downstream of the roller.

A paving machine including a front portion and a rear portion is provided. The paving machine includes a front traction device positioned at the front portion and a hopper to hold a paving material before the paving material is distributed on a surface. The paving machine further includes a screed to level the paving material on the surface. A roller is positioned downstream of the screed for compacting the paving material and a rear traction device is positioned at the rear portion.

A method of making a road by a paving machine is provided. The method includes receiving a paving material in a hopper positioned at a front portion of the paving machine. The method further includes distributing the paving material on a surface by an auger mounted on the paving machine. The paving material is then leveled by a screed mounted on the paving machine downstream of the auger. Furthermore, the paving material is compacted by a roller mounted on a rear portion of the paving machine downstream of the screed and the roller is stored away from the surface on the paving machine after compacting the paving material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic side view of a paving machine in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of a paving machine in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic side view of a paving machine in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates method of making a road.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the paving machine 100 includes a front portion 102 and a rear portion 104. The front portion 102 may have a front frame 106 that supports a hopper 108, a conveyor 154 (shown in FIG. 2), an auger 152, a screed 110, an operator station 112, a front traction device 114 and a fumes ventilation system 116. The rear portion 104 may have a rear frame 118 that supports a power source 120, a cooling system 122, a hydraulic system 124, a fuel tank 126, a generator 128, an exhaust system 130, rollers 132 and a rear traction device 138. Further, the paving machine 100 has a longitudinal axis 134 extending from the front portion 102 to the rear portion 104. In addition, the paving machine 100 may have a walkway assembly (not shown) coupled to the screed 110. The walkway assembly may enable an operator to observe the paving operation.

The hopper 108 may receive a paving material 150, for example asphalt or concrete, from a dump truck or a similar transport means. The conveyor 154 transfers the paving material 150 from the hopper 108 to the auger 152. The auger 152 is configured to distribute paving material 150 on a work surface 136. The auger 152 may be a rotating screw mechanism as known in the art. The work surface 136 may include any surface on which the paving machine 100 is moving for making a road. For example, the work surface 136 may be a road surface, a parking area, a highway and the like. The conveyor 154 may dump the paving material 150 on the work surface 136 in form of stockpiles and the auger 152 may distribute the paving material 150 in front of the screed 110.

The screed 110 may be positioned downstream of the auger 152. The paving material 150 dumped and distributed on the work surface 136 is leveled and given an initial compaction by the screed 110 as the paving machine 100 moves forward. In an embodiment, the screed 110 may include a main screed and at least one extender screed. In an embodiment, the screed 110 includes two extender frames slideably coupled on each side of the main screed. The extender frames may be extended or retracted relative to the main screed for different pavement requirements. The screed 110 provides a uniformly paved surface, referred to as mat 142, as the paving machine 100 moves forward.

The rear portion 104 of the paving machine 100 may include a rear cover or platform 140 (hereinafter referred as rear cover 140) supported by the rear frame 118. The rear cover 140 may enclose various components that are mounted on the rear frame 118. In an embodiment, the rear cover 140 may enclose the power source 120, the cooling system 122, the hydraulic system 124, the fuel tank 126, the generator 128, the exhaust system 130, the rollers 132 and the rear traction device 138. The rear frame 118 may also support other components as required for the paving machine 100. Positioning different components on the rear portion 104 aids in maximizing the overall compacting pressure that the rollers 132 can apply on the mat 142 for achieving better compaction of the mat 142.

The power source 120 may be any known source for providing power the paving machine 100. For example an internal combustion engine may be used for supplying power to various components of the paving machine 100. In an embodiment, the power source 120 may be coupled to components mounted on both, the front portion 102 and the rear portion 104 of the machine. In an embodiment, the power source 120 positioned on the rear portion 104 may supply power to all the components of the paving machine 100.

The hydraulic system 124 may include one or more hydraulic circuits to move one or more work implements and/or to provide propulsion for the paving machine 100. The hydraulic system 124 may include hydraulic pumps and other components as required for working of paving machine 100. The hydraulic system 124 may provide hydraulic fluid for working of various components of the paving machine 100 on both the front portion 102 and the rear portion 104.

Further, the rear portion 104 of the paving machine 100 may have the rollers 132 supported by the rear frame 118. The rollers 132 may be used for compaction of the mat 142 laid by the screed 110. The rollers 132 are mounted downstream of the screed 110 such that as the paving machine 100 moves forward, the paving material 150 leveled and partially compacted by the screed 110 can be compacted further by passing rollers 132 over the mat 142.

The rollers 132 may be mounted movably on the rear frame 118. The rollers 132 may be configured to selectively move between a compacting position for compacting the paving material 150, and a storage position for storing the roller away from the work surface 136. FIG. 3 illustrates the rollers 132 in the compacting position. As illustrated, in the compacting position the rollers 132 are configured to engage the work surface 136 for compacting the mat 142 laid by the screed 110. FIG, 1 illustrates the rollers 132 in the storage position. In storage position, the rollers 132 may be positioned away from the work surface 136 to store the rollers 132 away from the work surface 136 when the rollers 132 are not in use. Any known mechanism, for example hydraulic actuators, may be used to mount the rollers 132 movably on the rear frame 118. The rollers 132 may be configured to move to the compacting position when needed, and when the rollers 132 are not in use, they can be moved away from the work surface 136 to avoid any unnecessary drag while the paving machine 100 is moved, for example during transportation or turning of the paving machine 100. This arrangement also allows for avoiding any damage to the rollers 132 that may be caused due to the rollers 132 engaging an unpaved surface during transportation or any other such situation.

In an embodiment, the rollers 132 may be configured to provide propelling force to move the paving machine 100. The rollers 132, when in compacting position, may provide for a propelling force for the paving machine 100 along with the front traction device 114 for moving the paving machine 100 forward or backward.

In an embodiment, the rollers 132 may include a main roller 144 and at least one extender roller 146. The extender rollers 146 may be configured to move in a lateral direction to cover the width of the mat 142 laid by the paving machine 100. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the paving machine 100 may include two extender rollers 146. The extender rollers 146 may be extended or retracted in the lateral direction for covering the width of the mat 142 laid by the paving machine 100. FIG. 2 shows the extender roller 146 in an extended position. The extender rollers 146 may be extended and retracted by any mechanism such as, but not limited to, a hydraulic actuating mechanism, a pneumatic actuating mechanism, an electric actuating mechanism, a mechanical mechanism and the equivalents thereof

Further, in an embodiment, the rollers 132 may be configured to be inclined relative to the horizontal to allow for providing a crown or slope of desired angle on the mat 142. In an embodiment, the main roller 144 may include two separate rollers configured to be inclined independently or in relation to each other for providing a crowned or sloped road surface. In an embodiment, the rollers 132 may be coupled to a vibration assembly 148 for providing the rollers with a vibratory effect to enhance the compaction of the mat 142.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the rear portion 104 of the paving machine 100 may have the rear traction device 138 supported by the rear frame 118. The rear traction device 138 may support the paving machine 100 against the work surface 136. Additionally, the rear traction device 138 may also be configured to provide necessary traction or propelling force for moving the paving machine 100 forward or backward. The rear traction device 138 may be configured to selectively move between an engaged position for traction with work surface 136 and a disengaged position away from the work surface 136. In the engaged position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the rear traction device 138 may engage the work surface 136. In the disengaged position, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the rear traction device 138 may be moved to a position away from the work surface 136. Any known mechanism, for example hydraulic actuators may be used to move the rear traction device 138 between the engaged position and the disengaged position. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the rear traction device 138 are shown having tracks, however it may be understood that any other device, for example wheels may be used as rear traction device 138.

When the paving machine 100 is making a road, the rollers 132 may be moved to the compacting position for compacting the mat 142 after the screed 110 produces the mat 142. In such situation, the rear traction device 138 may be moved to the disengaged position. This way any unnecessary drag may be avoided while paving operation is in progress. Also, by moving the rear traction device 138 to the disengaged position, any unwanted damage or deformation of freshly laid mat 142 by the rear traction device 138 may be avoided. Moreover, lifting the rear traction device 138 away from the work surface 136 will aid in maximizing the effective pressure applied by the rollers 132 on the mat 142.

When the paving machine 100 is not making a road, the rollers 132 may be moved to the storage position and the rear traction device 138 may be moved to the engaged position. And when the paving machine 100 is used for making a road, the rollers 132 may be moved to the compacting position and the rear traction device 138 may be moved to the disengaged position.

The operator station 112 may be positioned on the front portion 102, longitudinally downstream of the hopper 108 and vertically above a general position of the screed 110 and the auger 152. The operator station 112 may be mounted on the front portion 102 of the paving machine 100 such that from the operator station 112 the rollers 132 and the hopper 108 are visible for monitoring the operation of the paving machine 100. Positioning different components on the rear portion 104 of the paving machine 100 enables the operator station 112 to be positioned more forwardly, such that among with other components, the hopper 108, the screed 110 and the rollers 132 may be clearly visible form the operator station 112 for monitoring operation of the paving machine 100.

The rear portion 104 of the paving machine 100 may be configured to articulate relative to the front portion 102. The front frame 106 and the rear frame 118 may be coupled to each other using an articulation joint. The provision for articulation of the rear portion 104 relative to the front portion 102 may enable easy steering and maneuvering of the paving machine 100 in certain situations, for example while turning of the paving machine 100 or while paving curved road surfaces.

Industrial Applicability

The present disclosure provides for a paving machine 100 with integrated rollers 132. The paving machine 100 in accordance with present disclosure provides for the rollers 132 integrated with the paving machine 100 to maximize the compaction of the mat 142 by the paving machine 100.

Further, present disclosure provides for a method 200 of making a road by a paving machine 100. Referring to FIG. 4, the method 200 includes a step 202 to receive a paving material 150 in a hopper 108 positioned at a front portion 102 of the paving machine 100. A truck may dump the paving material 150, for example asphalt, concrete, etc., in the hopper 108 positioned at the front portion 102 of the paving machine 100. In step 204, the paving material 150 is distributed on a work surface 136 by an auger 152 mounted on the paving machine 100. The paving material 150 received in the hopper 108 may be transferred to the auger 152 using arrangement known in the art, for example a conveyor 154. The auger 152 may distribute the paving material 150 on the work surface 136.

The method 200 further includes a step 206 of leveling the paving material 150 on the work surface 136 by a screed 110 mounted on the paving machine 100 downstream of the auger 152. As the paving machine 100 moves forward, the paving material 150 distributed on the work surface 136 by the auger 152 may be treated by the screed 110 to level the paving material 150 on the work surface 136 and form an even layer of the paving material 150 over the work surface 136. In an aspect, the screed 110 may be configured to partially compact the paving material 150 on the work surface 136 for forming a mat 142. In an aspect, the screed 110 may be imparted with a vibratory or vertical oscillating motion using a vibration or tamper assembly coupled to the screed 110 for providing an initial compaction to the mat 142.

Further, the method 200 may include a step 208 of compacting the paving material 150 by rollers 132 mounted on a rear portion 104 of the paving machine 100 downstream of the screed 110. The paving machine 100 may have one or more rollers 132 mounted on the rear portion 104 of the paving machine 100. The rollers 132 may be used to provide compaction to the mat 142 formed by the screed 110. The rollers 132 may be configured to provide a level of compaction sufficient for finishing the road surface.

In step 210, the rollers 132 may be stored away from the work surface 136 on the paving machine 100. The rollers 132 may be configured to move between an compacting position and a storage position. In the compacting position, the rollers 132 may engage the mat 142 on the work surface 136 to compact the mat 142 for making a road. When the rollers are not in use, the rollers 132 may be lifted away from the work surface 136 and held away from the work surface 136. In the storage position, the rollers 132 may be supported on the rear portion 104 of the paving machine 100.

In an aspect, the method 200 may include moving a rear traction device 138 mounted on the rear portion 104 of the paving machine 100 to an engaged position for traction with the work surface 136. The rear traction device 138 mounted on the rear portion 104 may support the rear portion 104 against the work surface 136. The rear traction device 138 may be coupled to the power source 120 to provide for necessary traction with the work surface 136.

In another aspect, the method 200 may include moving the rear traction device 138 to a disengaged position away from the work surface 136 when the roller is compacting the paving material 150. When the rollers 132 are used to compact the mat 142, the rear traction device 138 may be moved to a disengaged position. In the disengaged position, the rear traction device 138 may be moved away from the work surface 136 to avoid any unnecessary drag on the paving machine 100. Lifting up the rear traction device 138 away from the work surface 136 may also maximize the effective pressure that the rollers 132 may exert on the mat 142, as lifting up the rear traction device 138 may increase the composite weight of the rear portion 104 of the paving machine 100.

Further, the paving machine 100 in accordance with present disclosure may reduce or eliminate the need of using separate compacting machines for compacting the mat 142 laid by the screed 110 of the paver. Thus, present disclosure provides for a cost effective method of making a road. The paving machine 100 as provided may improve overall efficiency in making a road. The paving machine may also reduce the overall number of manpower needed for making a road. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A paving machine comprising: a hopper to receive a paving material; an auger to distribute the paving material on a work surface; a screed assembly to level the paving material distributed by the auger; at least one roller to compact the paving material leveled by the screed assembly; and a rear traction device positioned downstream of the roller.
 2. The paving machine of claim 1, wherein the roller is configured to selectively move between a compacting position for compacting the paving material on the work surface, and a storage position for storing the roller on the paving machine.
 3. The paving machine of claim 2, wherein the rear traction device is configured to selectively move between an engaged position for traction with the work surface and a disengaged position away from the work surface.
 4. The paving machine of claim 3, wherein the rear traction device is configured to move to the disengaged position when the roller is moved to the compacting position for compacting the paving material.
 5. The paving machine of claim 3, wherein the rear traction device is configured to move to the engaged position when the roller is moved to the storage position.
 6. The paving machine of claim 1, wherein the roller is coupled to a vibration assembly for compacting the paving material.
 7. The paving machine of claim 1, wherein the roller includes at least one main roller at least one extender roller.
 8. A paving machine comprising: a front portion and a rear portion; a front traction device positioned at the front portion; a hopper to hold a paving material before the paving material is distributed on a work surface; a screed to level the paving material on the work surface; a roller positioned downstream of the screed for compacting the paving material; and a rear traction device positioned at the rear portion.
 9. The paving machine of claim 8, further comprising: a power source positioned on the rear portion.
 10. The paving machine of claim 8, further comprising: an operator station positioned on the front portion.
 11. The paving machine of claim 8, wherein the roller is configured to selectively move between a compacting position for compacting the paving material on the work surface, and a storage position for storing the roller away from the work surface.
 12. The paving machine of claim 11, wherein the rear traction device is configured to selectively move between an engaged position for traction with the work surface and a disengaged position away from the work surface.
 13. The paving machine of claim 12, wherein the rear traction device is configured to move to the disengaged position when the roller is moved to the compacting position for compacting the paving material.
 14. The paving machine of claim 12, wherein the rear traction device is configured to move to the engaged position when the roller is moved to the storage position.
 15. The paving machine of claim 8, wherein the roller is coupled to a vibration assembly for compacting the paving material.
 16. The paving machine of claim 8, wherein the roller includes at least one main roller and at least one extender roller
 17. A method of making a road by a paving machine, the method comprising: receiving a paving material in a hopper positioned at a front portion of the paving machine; distributing the paving material on a work surface by an auger mounted on the paving machine; leveling the paving material on the work surface by a screed mounted on the paving machine downstream of the auger; compacting the paving material by a roller mounted on a rear portion of the paving machine downstream of the screed; and storing the roller away from the work surface on the paving machine after compacting the paving material.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: moving a rear traction device mounted on the rear portion of the paving machine to an engaged position for traction with the work surface.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: moving the rear traction device to a disengaged position away from the work surface when the roller is compacting the paving material.
 20. The method of claim 17, further comprising: imparting a vibratory motion to the roller using a vibration assembly coupled to the roller. 